These are the main findings of a telephone Morgan Poll of 555 electors conducted over the two nights of May 4/5, 2010 throughout Australia.
Taxation, including Lower Taxes and Tax Reform 22% (up 8% since October 2007) is clearly the most important issue that the Federal Government could address that would most benefit electors and their families according to a special pre-Budget telephone Morgan Poll.
Health 18% (down 9%) ranks as the next highest concern ahead of Social Welfare and the Aged 13% (up 1% since October 2007) ahead of Education 10% (down 6% since October 2007), and interest rates 8% (up 1% since October 2007) following 6 interest rate rises from 3% to 4.5% since October 2009.
Superannuation/Self Funded Retirees (6%) is the biggest growth issue in the minds of electors aside from Tax. Concern for the Environment 4% (down 1%) was slightly softer ahead of an upcoming Federal Election.
Analysis of issues by Voting Intention shows remarkable similarity across ALP and L-NP voters. Although Taxation is mentioned by more L-NP voters than ALP voters (25% cf. 22%) even among ALP voters Taxation tops the list.
ALP voters are more concerned about the Environment than L-NP (4% cf. 1%), while L-NP voters are more concerned about economic and financial matters — including a call for the Government to stop wasting taxpayer’s money.
Gary Morgan says:
“Despite the Government’s announcements about proposed taxation changes, Taxation topped the list of issues electors say the Government could do to be of most benefit to them and their families (22%) ahead of Health (18%), Social welfare and the Aged (13%), Interest rates (8%) and Superannuation (6%).
"These were electors’ priorities even before the drop in the sharemarket and Australian dollar, and well before the full impact of the Government’s Mining “Super Profits” Tax had been understood and felt.
An Australia-wide cross-section of electors was asked: “Thinking about YOURSELF. What could the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT do, that would MOST BENEFIT YOU and YOUR FAMILY?"
These are the main findings of a telephone Morgan Poll of 555 electors conducted over the two nights of May 4/5, 2010 throughout Australia.
What could the Federal Government do that would be of most benefit to you and your family?
Electors were then asked: “Thinking about YOURSELF. What could the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT do, that would MOST BENEFIT YOU and YOUR FAMILY?"
Overall, Taxation (22%) is the most important issue for electors that the Federal Government could do that would most benefit electors and their families.
Looking across party lines, Taxation is the top issue for supporters of both major parties — the ALP (22%) and L-NP (25%).
Other important issues forALP supporters include Health (19%), Social welfare and the Aged (14%), Education (10%), Interest rates (9%) and Superannuation/ Self-funded retirees (6%). Perhaps surprisingly, only 4% of ALP supporters nominated the Environment, equal with Transport/ Roads (4%).
Important issues for L-NP supporters included Health (18%), Social welfare and the Aged (13%), Education (12%), Interest rates (9%) and Industry & Business (9%), and Quality of Government, Stop/ Reduce spending/ Wasting Tax Payer’s money and Family issues (All 5%).
What could the Federal Government do that would be of most benefit to you and your family?
ANALYSIS BY YEAR
|
|
All Electors
|
|
|
Jul
|
Jul
|
Nov
|
Feb
|
Nov
|
Mar
|
Oct
|
Dec
|
May
|
May
|
May
|
Oct
|
May
|
|
Summary Issues
|
‘94
|
‘95
|
‘95
|
‘99
|
‘99
|
'01
|
'01
|
'02
|
'03
|
‘04
|
‘07
|
‘07
|
‘10
|
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Taxation/Lower taxes
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
18
|
15
|
12
|
13
|
15
|
26
|
25
|
15
|
11
|
15
|
|
Tax reform
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
3
|
*
|
5
|
4
|
6
|
5
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
|
Taxation/no GST
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
4
|
3
|
8
|
12
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
Mining Taxes
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
1
|
|
Other taxation issues
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
4
|
8
|
*
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
Total Taxation
|
26
|
25
|
25
|
29
|
26
|
25
|
30
|
25
|
34
|
32
|
18
|
14
|
22
|
|
Health
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
16
|
13
|
12
|
26
|
17
|
|
Medicare/Bulk billing
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
7
|
2
|
*
|
1
|
1
|
|
Private health insurance
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
1
|
2
|
*
|
*
|
1
|
|
Total Health
|
8
|
9
|
8
|
10
|
12
|
7
|
10
|
12
|
22
|
16
|
12
|
27
|
18
|
|
Social welfare and the Aged
|
11
|
11
|
11
|
9
|
11
|
13
|
12
|
13
|
10
|
13
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
|
Education
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
5
|
9
|
9
|
13
|
8
|
13
|
12
|
9
|
16
|
10
|
|
Interest rates
|
3
|
5
|
7
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
3
|
2
|
7
|
8
|
|
Superannuation/Self-funded retirees
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
6
|
|
Environment
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
7
|
5
|
4
|
|
Carbon Trading, ETS, Carbon Price
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
1
|
|
Total Environment
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
5
|
|
Industry and Business
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
|
Housing affordability
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
4
|
|
Transport/Roads
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
|
Quality of Govt./Politicians
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
Economy and Finance
|
6
|
8
|
9
|
4
|
4
|
6
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
Family issues
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
|
Stop/Reduce spending/Wasting Tax Payer's money
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
3
|
|
Limit immigration
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Reduce cost of living
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
Unemployment
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
6
|
8
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Child and youth services
|
5
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
|
Increase wages
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
1
|
5
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
|
Work conditions/IR
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
*
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
|
Petrol prices
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
|
Paid Maternity Leave
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
1
|
|
Law and order
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
*
|
|
Trade and Foreign policy
|
*
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
*
|
|
Equality
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
*
|
*
|
-
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
|
Water supply/Management
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
3
|
2
|
*
|
|
Defence/National security
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
|
Aborigines
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
*
|
*
|
-
|
1
|
*
|
-
|
|
Other
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
7
|
6
|
*
|
1
|
1
|
|
Total mentioned an issue
|
81
|
78
|
80
|
84
|
79
|
81
|
80
|
78
|
88
|
89
|
71
|
85
|
85
|
|
Nothing/Can't say
|
19
|
22
|
20
|
16
|
21
|
19
|
20
|
22
|
12
|
11
|
29
|
15
|
15
|
|
Total
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
# Results from sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
Not mentioned. * Less than 1%. n/a Not available. Percentages add to more than 100% as some electors gave multiple answers.
What could the Federal Government do that would be of most benefit to you and your family?
ANALYSIS BY VOTING INTENTION
|
|
Analysis by Federal Voting Intention
|
|
Summary Issues
|
Total
|
ALP
|
L-NP
|
| |
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Taxation/Lower taxes
|
15
|
16
|
19
|
|
Tax reform
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
|
Taxation/no GST
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Mining Taxes
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Other taxation issues
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
|
Total Taxation
|
22
|
22
|
25
|
|
Health
|
17
|
18
|
17
|
|
Medicare/Bulk billing
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Private health insurance
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Total Health
|
18
|
19
|
18
|
|
Social welfare and the Aged
|
13
|
14
|
13
|
|
Education
|
10
|
10
|
12
|
|
Interest rates
|
8
|
9
|
9
|
|
Superannuation/Self-funded retirees
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
|
Environment
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
|
Carbon Trading, ETS, Carbon Price
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
|
Total Environment
|
5
|
4
|
1
|
|
Industry and Business
|
4
|
1
|
9
|
|
Housing affordability
|
4
|
3
|
4
|
|
Transport/Roads
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
|
Economy and Finance
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
|
Quality of Govt./Politicians
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
|
Stop/ Reduce spending/Wasting Tax Payer's money
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
|
Family issues
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
|
Child and youth services
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
|
Increase wages
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
Unemployment
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
Limit immigration
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
Reduce cost of living
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
Electricity costs/prices
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
Work conditions/IR
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Petrol prices
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Paid Maternity Leave
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Increase payments for disabled
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Give out more money/stimulus
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Water supply/Management
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
|
Law and order
|
*
|
-
|
1
|
|
Equality
|
*
|
-
|
1
|
|
Other
|
15
|
12
|
14
|
|
Total mentioned an issue
|
86
|
84
|
90
|
|
Nothing/Can't say
|
14
|
16
|
10
|
|
Total
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
# Results from sample sizes less than 50 should be treated with caution
Not mentioned. * Less than 1% . n/a Not available. Percentages add to more than 100% as some electors gave multiple answers.
For further information:
Michele Levine: Office +61 3 9224 5215 Mobile +61 411 129 093
Gary Morgan: Office +61 3 9224 5213 Mobile +61 411 129 094
The Morgan Poll is conducted by the ONLY Australian and New Zealand member of the Gallup International Association.
No other public opinion poll taken in Australia or New Zealand has this qualification.